Fence-post



(No Model.)

O. 'H. GERSGH.

FENCE POST. No. 450,386. Patented Apr. 14, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES H. GERSCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,385, dated April 14, 1891.

Application filed October 11, 1889. Serial No. 826,741. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GERSCH, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation showing a complete fence. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through a single post. Fig. 3 is a top view of the base, the post being in section. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the base. i g

This invention relates to improvements in fence-posts. Its object is to provide an improved terra-cotta base for supporting the post, which I accomplish as iliustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described. That which I claim as new will be pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents a fence-post, which may be made in any suitable form and adapted to support any style of fence, such as the picket-fence shown, or a wire fence, or other style of fence requiring a post.

B represents the base, which may be made of terra-cotta, pottery, or common earthenware, and is designed to be setin the ground to support the post in the desired position. This base B has a central opening through its entire length, which diminishes in diameter toward its upper end.

The lower end of the post A is placed in the upper end of the base B, and the space between the post A and the base B- is filled with cement b, which firmly holds the post in the base B. As the interior opening of the base B is tapered upward, the post cannot be drawn out after the cement has set around it by winds or accidents on account of the wedging action of the tapered opening.

frost or broken either by accident or by the wedging of the post A in the tapered opening.

Ct is a ring or flange, which may be secured to the post, or, if the post is made of cast metal, may be cast thereon. This flange or ring rests upon the top of the base B, sup porting a part of the weight of the post, and also serving to protect the top of the base B.

The base so made of terra-cotta furnishes a firm support for'the post and is not affected by rust, as metal posts, or by rot, as wooden posts are, which are placed directly in the ground.

I am aware that concrete bases for posts of different constructions have been heretofore used, and I do not claim such broadly; but

IVhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a fence-post A of substantially uniform size throughout its lower part, of a terra-cotta base B, having a CHARLES H. GERSCH,

Witnesses:

HARRY T. J ONES, ALBERT H. ADAMS. 

